Protection of Freelancers is Overdue

One of the striking aspects of the alleged behaviour by TV presenter Gregg Wallace is that many of the women who say they were bullied and sexually harassed by him make the point that they were freelancers with no-one to protect them and with precarious incomes.

Only later when their circumstances have changed have they felt able to tell their stories.

Let’s state for the record that at the time of writing Mr Wallace denies the allegations. The purpose of this blog is not to examine that question or make comment on him.

The wider issue though is that freelancers are self-evidently more exposed to risk. They cannot go to their line manager who may have more leverage over someone accused of bullying, harassment or worse.

They have incomes which are more directly related to their personal rather than a corporate relationship with their clients and those they work for.

It is encouraging therefore that a body has been set up to tackle this problem in the creative industries which depend so heavily on freelance talent.

It is The Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority.

The purpose of the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA) is to uphold and improve standards of behaviour across the creative industries and to prevent and tackle all forms of bullying and harassment, including bullying and harassment of a discriminatory nature.

CIISA is currently working with the film, TV theatre and music industries but we hope that it will soon embrace the PR sector and we will be making the case to the PRCA and the CIPR that they should open a dialogue with CIISA to widen their remit at the earliest possible stage to include public relations.

CIISA is currently seeking views on their role and we would encourage PR freelancers to look carefully at what CIISA is planning and to comment. The link to the consultation is HERE